Australian city named seventh World Marathon destination

Sydney will join the ranks of the world’s most iconic marathon cities, becoming the seventh city to take its place as a major World Marathon destination.

The announcement was made at yesterday’s New York Marathon after Sydney Marathon organizers had lobbied for three years for the Abbott World Marathon to compete in major marathons alongside New York, Chicago, Boston, London, Tokyo and Berlin.

Tens of thousands more runners are expected to travel to Sydney for the Sydney Marathon, which will also increase tourism spending.

The announcement comes after participation in the Sydney Marathon has already increased by 400 per cent from 2022, from 5,000 participants to 25,000 in 2024.

33,300 runners are expected to take part in August next year, and 37,800 runners in 2027.

Destination New South Wales estimates that due to the event’s new status in Sydney, an additional $73 million will be spent over the next three years and a further $300 million over the next decade.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said “achieving major marathon status was a huge honour”.

“We have ambitious plans to increase visitor numbers in NSW and this event is another benefit to our efforts,” he said.

“You can imagine people seeing Sydney on TV or coming here as participants or spectators and thinking, ‘I’ll bring my family and friend with me.’

“I think the multiple will be much larger in the coming years.”

The Sydney Marathon course will be redesigned to be similar to the course used during the Olympics to allow more runners to race.